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This story is a paid political advertisement by Case for Congress.
Few people in Utah political circles were aware of Case Lawrence before he announced his outsider bid to represent the 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lawrence's own family, including his wife Kerri and their six kids, were shocked when he told them he was considering running. So why did this successful businessman and adjunct professor at BYU decide to put everything else on hold to run for political office?
It all comes back to Case's and Kerrie's personal journeys. The Lawrence family has seen a lot of ups and downs over the years. Lawrence spent his early career in real estate — and in 2007 his family's life was turned upside down by the financial crisis. He would later describe it as "gut-wrenching."
They had four children under 10 and in an instant they lost everything. It was a dark time for their family. Kerri remembers that in the middle of that crisis her husband woke up one morning and told her he was going to start a new business. She thought he was crazy.
They scrapped and saved and started a small business in Provo. And over the next 15 years that business, SkyZone, grew into one of the largest companies in its industry. It now employs over five thousand people.
Lawrence always tells his students at BYU that in many ways his story is not unique. It's a classic American story. It's also a classic Utah story.
"That is the story of the American dream. This is the land of second chances. New starts. Fresh opportunity. A place for believers and entrepreneurs," Lawrence says. "Where if you work hard and don't quit eventually you'll make it. No matter how bumpy the road."
And Lawrence is deeply worried that version of America is slipping away. That's why he's running.
According to research on upward mobility conducted by Raj Chetty at Harvard the odds that baby boomers ended up financially better off than their parents was 80%. The odds for millennials is just 50%.
"If it feels like the American Dream is slipping away it's because it is," Lawrence says.
The last four years have been devastating for Utah's workers and entrepreneurs. Runaway inflation. Unaffordable housing. Excessive government overreach. Chaotic borders. Embarrassing and dysfunctional politics in Washington DC.
Lawrence believes U.S. government leaders can help restore the American Dream by focusing on three key priorities: Getting the fiscal house in order, securing U.S. borders and unleashing the American economy.
Get the fiscal house in order
According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, at $659 billion, interest was the fourth largest government expenditure in 2023, exceeded only by Social Security, Medicare and defense.
America is living paycheck to paycheck right now. The government spends money it doesn't have, on government programs the people don't need. The time to fix America's addiction to debt is now, Lawrence says. The path to fixing the debt is actually quite clear. But political courage is lacking.
Lawrence explains balancing the budget is not complicated. Thousands of Utah families do it every month. He says as a small business owner he did it every year. It's simple. Spend less than you bring in. Cut programs that don't work. Say no to nice ideas that are unaffordable. "That's my commitment to Utah voters if I'm lucky enough to be elected," he says.
Secure U.S. borders
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports encounters at the U.S. Southwest Border in fiscal 2023 increased more than 40% since fiscal 2021 and more than 100% compared to fiscal 2019.
"That's a catastrophe for this country. It's a catastrophe for those migrants. And it's fixable. If elected, securing our border once and for all will be one of my top priorities," Lawrence says.
"I am a strong believer in legal immigration. Legal immigration is an important part of the American dream and it's an important part of the history of this state," Lawrence says. "We want good, law-abiding people to come here. But they must come here legally."
Lawrence notes this is not just a volume problem. What is even more alarming is that 169 people from the U.S. Terrorism Watchlist attempted to cross the U.S. border last year. And border agents confiscated 27,000 pounds of fentanyl, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Fentanyl is a factor in more than half of drug overdose deaths, which are a significant cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18-45, according to data from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
Unleash the American economy
A strong economy is the foundation of American strength. The past four years produced soaring inflation, higher interest rates and historically high housing costs. The American Dream begins with affordable housing, Lawrence explains. Currently, housing in this country has never been more unaffordable. Today young people who should be homeowners are renting with little hope of buying a home of their own unless the U.S. economy gets back on track.
Making housing affordable again is a national emergency and government leaders need to treat it with that urgency, according to Lawrence.
Re-establishing the goal of domestic energy independence through fewer regulations and substantive permitting reform is important for strengthening the economy. Lawrence says, "We have seen in years past that there is no greater catalyst for a thriving economy than a booming energy sector!"
He explains that eliminating the federal gas and diesel tax would directly counter the impact of inflation on the budgets of American families and provide smart economic stimulus headed into a year of expected slower growth.
Lastly, Lawrence recommends extending the 2017 Small Business Tax Deduction for small and new businesses. This deduction is set to expire in 2025 and it needs to be made permanent to reward and incentivize Utah's entrepreneurs.
His concern for the American Dream has been the driving force behind Lawrence's bid for Congress.
"This is why I am running: To help restore the America that restored me," Lawrence says.
